A new building wrap can make a significant difference in your home’s energy usage, your comfort, and your health. Why is that the case? And when is the best time to upgrade your building wrap? Today, we are tackling the important topic of building wrap to help you plan your next set of renovations. The importance of building wrap Building wrap can seem like...
Stop Work Orders – a boundless source of stress for homeowners. We have written a lot about Stop Work Orders in the past, covering everything from horror stories to tips for avoiding them. In spite of this, we continue to see homeowners who have received Stop Work Orders – and hear the devastating consequences of receiving them. This month, we created a three-part series about...
Stop Work Orders may be scary, but they are completely preventable. If you follow a few simple steps, you will not have to worry about Stop Work Orders at all. Not sure why you want to avoid Stop Work Orders? This month, we created a three-part series about Stop Work Orders Check out the other blogs in this three-part series: 4 Perfect Examples of Why...
Welcome to the third part in our Stop Work Orders series! This month, we created a three-part series about Stop Work Orders We have already tackled 4 Perfect Examples of Why to Take Stop Work Orders Seriously and Why Stop Orders Happen and How To Prevent Them. Today, we are wrapping up with a look at the consequences of working without the appropriate Permits. Some...
Virtual reality design technology is on track to change how Vancouver approaches custom home design. Its capabilities, however, can also be utilized in the home renovation industry. We believe that VR will revolutionize the home renovation process for both homeowners and renovation professionals. How Virtual Reality has changed home renovations for homeowners In the past, homeowners often have not been full participants in the...
Just as VR scans have changed the face of the real estate industry, rough-in scans are poised to revolutionize the home renovation process. Not sure what rough-in scans are? We are here to give you all the details about them – and how they can help you with your Vancouver home design or renovation. What are rough-in scans? Like VR scans, rough-in scans are 3D,...
Now that VR Design and VR scans are on the market, there is a range of new applications appearing for them. One of the applications we are most excited about is home renovations. In the past, there was limited technical support to help Designers and homeowners communicate about home renovations. This has, at times, led to misunderstandings and miscommunications. Now, Virtual Reality is revolutionizing...
When a loved one has a disease like Alzheimer's, paying for outside assistance may not always be an option. But help in any form is crucial if you’re connected. Alzheimer's disease affects about 5.4 million Americans, about 5.2 million of which are 65 and older. It can be your grandparent, your cousin, your sibling or even your parent who faces the diagnosis. Eventually, those...
You have probably seen the infamous “Vancouver Special” homes around the City. Popular in the 1970s to 1980s, these houses were built on a budget, mainly on the East Side of the City core. The upsides? They are easy to renovate: they almost always have Truss Roofs which means fewer Load Bearing Walls, making them easier to gut and modernize. They usually are very easily...
Renovating a townhouse or condo? The rules for renovating a multifamily unit can be a little different than remodelling a single-family home. Working with a Vancouver renovation designer ensures that not only will your renovation go smoothly and look consistent from start to finish, but can save you from costly delays due to unexpected permit requirements, for example. Before beginning your townhouse remodel, talk to...
Our residential design team recently completed an interior/exterior renovation project in Tsawwassen. Our team was privileged to work on this renovation and was extremely pleased with how the project turned out. The initial plan for the project was only for interior renovations. But then, it quickly began to expand to include an update of the home’s exterior as well. The renovated home features a walk-in closet off...
BC has implemented an amendment to the Building Code that will step up the energy efficiency of homes in the province. The BC Energy Step Code, or Step Code for short, is a graduated plan that steps up the efficiency and sustainability of homes over the coming years, until 2032. In that year, the goal is to have new homes in the province built to...
If you were in Olympic Village in the past month, you might have noticed a strange sculpture in the square across from Terra Breads. This wasn’t a public art display, but a demonstration of BC Building Code-grade energy efficiency, versus Passive House energy efficiency. What was the Ice Box Challenge Vancouver? Inside the two concrete polyhedrons was a 1,000 kilogram block of ice. Placed under the hot...
When we talk about energy efficient home design, there is perhaps no standard higher than Passive House. Passive homes have energy savings of 80% to 90%, over non-Passive House designed structures. The theory is that our homes can be comfortably warm in winter and cool in summer without much use of artificial heating and cooling methods – instead using the home’s design and its...
Vancouver is at the forefront of a global movement toward more sustainable buildings and lower environmental impacts. In 2016, the City launched a plan to have all new buildings produce zero emissions by the year 2030, and by 2050, existing buildings will have been retrofitted to produce zero emissions as well. The Georgia Straight calls the plan “bold” and while that is true, it is important...
Thinking of purchasing a home that is a bit of a fixer-upper? Doing a major home renovation can have big pay-offs for your family’s happiness and comfort at home, as well as for your property’s resale value. However, before you sign the check, read this checklist that includes 7 things you should check before buying a fixer-upper home. If you are on a tight budget for...
Our team has been working on an addition to a detached home in Surrey. In all, the project involves adding a 2,500 sq. ft. two-storey addition to an existing detached rancher-style home that measured 2,200 sq. ft., plus adding a secondary suite (on the second level) and a two-car garage and workshop to the property. The project is still in the construction stage – the...
As we get older, living in a senior’s home becomes necessary because they’re designed in a way to help people with reduced mobility get around. When given a choice, most people prefer to stay at home as they age whenever possible. Luckily, in most cases, it is possible. Floor plan design for aging in place When creating a floor plan, choosing a layout that is...
When housing gets pricey, people get renovating. It is a fact that is becoming increasingly true especially here in the Lower Mainland. Renovating offers homeowners a way to upgrade their living space without having to play in the crazy Vancouver housing market, so there is no wonder renovations are so popular here. We’ve written a lot about renovating lately, so today we’re compiling the best...
One of the first things to consider when you’re planning to build a secondary suite in your home is the cost. Since a primary reason why homeowners want to put a secondary suite into their homes is for monthly rental income, the cost of constructing a secondary suite has to be worthwhile financially. This article helps you understand the costs of building a secondary suite...